Luca de la Torre's LaLiga move to Celta Vigo is a bet on himself

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Luca de la Torre likes to bet on himself and come out on top. He left San Diego at the ripe old age of 15 to join the academy of the English team. When playing time became limited, De la Torre moved to Heracles Almelo in the Netherlands.

It could have been seen as a step down, but he got the steady playing time he was seeking and became a regular contributor there, which allowed him to force his way into the national team manager's thoughts. De La Torre has seen his stock increase in the past, now he's making his biggest wager yet, completing a move to Spain and joining LaLiga side Celta Vigo on Friday for a bargain transfer fee.

He is going to the top league in the world and it will be a test of his skills. He is happy with the move.

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"It's the type of step up that I wanted, to a really good league, and a team that kind of fits my style of play," he said in a phone interview. They prefer to keep the ball. They like to attack the ball. The manager demands a lot of work ethic off the ball, which I think describes me as a player, so it's a great place to be.

The biggest risk for De la Torre is how the move will affect the US national team. He would have been guaranteed playing time in the Dutch second tier after Heracles was demoted. It wasn't likely to improve his chances of making the squad. With the World Cup just four months away, he will be trying to break into a team that finished 11th last year.

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— RC Celta English (@RCCeltaEN) July 8, 2022

De la Torre was described as a player who wanted to raise the competition level in the squad, but not to be a starter. De la Torre doesn't think the situation is daunting. He has been here before.

He said that whatever move he makes in his career, it will always be ambitious and a step up in competition. I like that. I have embraced that situation and have been successful with the national team. I'm glad to have that here. My place with Heracles was also up for grabs. The same thing happens in football. I think it's going to be fun here.

It will require adaptation to a new culture and language. De la Torre has a Spanish passport but his Spanish language skills have been missing for years. He said that he would need to learn.

De la Torre believes that his passing and ability to move the ball on the dribble match up well with his new environment. He said that a lot of people would say he's a stereotypical Spanish player. I believe I'll fit in here.

The move to Heracles was made with De la Torre's international ambitions in mind. De la Torre said playing every week in the Dutch league increased his confidence, and that he knows more about himself as a player now, how hard he can work off the ball and the extent to which he can help his team with it. He said it allowed him to come into his own.

The progression was the same with the U.S. team. As World Cup qualification went on, De la Torre's responsibilities increased, including starts in critical matches against Honduras and Panama, both of which the United States won.

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When he was a member of the national team, he took his chances. If I got a few minutes off the bench, I felt like I had to be one of the best players on the field. It wouldn't be easy to get another chance. I embraced that feeling and was consistent in my chances of getting it.

De la Torre is trying to get on the plane to get into the starting lineup. That objective is within reach because of Berhalter's continued tinkering with his midfield. He will need to make the most of his move to Celta. The move was given the go-ahead by Berhalter because it fits the player's skill set, according to de la Torre.

"I have to adjust to a new club, and that usually takes time, but I want to get going as soon as I can, get minutes, really show my quality here so that I can make an impact with the national team," he stated.

De la Torre has made another wager. It's time to find out if it will work.